Research is being carried out on the atmospheric corrosion of metals and semiconductors. A Kelvin probe has been developed to determine the corrosion potentials of metal surfaces in humid environments. Very fine Kelvin probes are used to examine both homogenous and nonhomogeneous metals. Systematic variations in the corrosion conditions allow determination of the conditions under which the probes give accurate open-circuit potentials. Mathematical modeling of the electrochemical process compares predictions with experiment. This creative research should lead to a marked improvement in our understanding of atmospheric corrosion, an area of critical importance to the longevity of structural and electronic systems. The research will create a highly useful probe applicable to research studies of thin film electrolyte corrosion.
